Author: Mark Valderrama

How To Survive A Fish Tank Power Outage – Read This To Save Your Pets!

The most dreaded event in our hobby is a fish tank power outage. I write this article with a heavy heart as a good friend of mine just lost his reef tank of over 11 years after the snowstorms here in Texas. He had a wonderful 150 gallon reef tank and within a few days everything was gone!

I don’t want you to go through the same thing and hopefully you are reading this before you had a power outage. It’s a horrible and helpless feeling. I also feel this should have been one of the first articles I wrote when I started up this blog. Either way, I’m here to guide you and get you prepared. I’ll cover it all. I’ve been in your shoes and have survived several here in Texas. It’s an all too common event here with our weather.

Why Is An Aquarium Power Outage So Deadly?

Let’s start with this first question. For the vast majority of pets that we know of, most will be unaffected by a power outage. A dog will continue to be your companion and a cat will happily hunt for its own food if things get very dire. Both pets in these cases continue to have free unrestricted reign to their space.

The live animals in your aquarium do not have this privilege. They are in a closed environment – their aquatic world. Everything in your aquarium requires the ecosystem to be stable. When the electricity goes out, the entire system is thrown off balance. Air pumps and wavemakers move water and oxygenate it. Your power filters and sump maintain your nitrogen cycle and keep your bacteria colonies going. If you keep live plants or live rock, these lifeforms provide filtration and need your fish happy and healthy to function.

Electricity is the heart of the your artificial ecosystem you have created. Without it, the life support breaks – and it gets ugly and tragic very quick

Why You Need A Backup Plan

Let me highlight the story of my friend. Below is a picture of his tank before the snowstorms here in Texas. 11 years of building his reef tank down the drain in a few days. He didn’t have the equipment to get through the power outage. Most people with tanks this large don’t. I don’t spare you the aftermath, it’s not for the faint of heart

Let’s talk about everything that goes wrong during a power outage

Oxygen Levels

This is the primary concern when you have a power outage. Oxygen will be the first thing the depletes in your aquarium. Once your air pumps, wavemakers, and return pumps power off it’s a race to keep your oxygen levels up. Within a few hours of no water flow, your oxygen levels will deplete and everything will start to suffocate. It gets ugly very quick.

Temperature

This is the next killer. This is what I call the long-term killer when power outages last for days. Depending on your climate it will either be a cold tank or one that overheats. Cold weather is actually either to deal with because animals in aquariums can handle colder weather for some time. They will go dormant or slow down. I have seen reef tanks go through cold temperatures for several days hitting low 60s and the corals and fish pop right back up after the power comes on.

Heat is a other other matter. It makes a lot of sense as we have see mass bleaching events in our oceans when temperatures rise only a few degrees¹. This is the same with freshwater fish. Heat kills aquatic animals fast. And it doesn’t take a power outage either! A failed AC and 85+ degrees in your home and your apartment is dangerous for your fish tank

Ammonia Spikes

Once animals start dying, there will be massive ammonia spikes. Your bacteria colonies, which are handicapped during an outage will be overwhelmed at the increase in ammonia. It will be like dominos falling. Once something dies, everything else will start doing so quickly!

Get Your Gear Now – Don’t Wait!

I’m going to provide you a quick shopping list of what you will need that covers different sizes of fish tanks and needs. I will go over why each one is effective. Get this gear now before disaster strikes. You owe it to your aquatic animals

Picture	Name	Type	Link
For Large Tanks	Champion Generator	For large tanks Long-term power outages	Buy On Amazon
Requires No Electricity	Dr. Sochting’s Oxydator	Requires No Electricity Removes Ammonia	Buy On eBay
Most Portable	AmPeak Car Inverter	Works on Cars Long term outages	Buy On Amazon
For Small Tanks	Penn Plax Battery Powered Air Pump	Battery Powered Small Tanks	Buy On Amazon
For Wavemakers	IceCap Battery BackUp	Battery Backup DC Wavemakers	Click For Best Price Buy On Amazon

Gear

I’ll go over each piece of equipment and explain what they are best for

1. Generators

Generators are the best solution for a long-term power outage. A lot of aquarium stores and retailers do not like to talk about them because they want to sell you their aquarium based solution, but the fact of the matter is an old school generator will get you through the worse power outages.

The one I linked to is an all-rounder that will work for virtually any situation and setups. I know some hobbyists who have so much invested in their tanks, that they have purchased a whole home generator. These are very expensive and out of the budget of most folks. They run off gas that you can get from a gas station or siphon from your vehicles. A full tank should run you about half the day. If you don’t purchase one for your aquarium, you should consider getting one for your house as part of your diester planning efforts

2. Dr. Sochting’s Oxydator

This has been my secret weapon for years against power outages. This amazing piece of equipment requires no elecricity to operate. It functions by using a catalyst and hydrogen peroxide. The chemical reaction creates oxygen for your aquarium and detoxes ammonia from your aquarium. This can efficiently replace your biological filteration and keep your tank full of oxygen during the outage

Since they do not require electricity to operate, they are ideal for long-term power outages. The hydrogen peroxide will last 5-7 days and it’s easy to buy the solution in bulk and stock up. They are hard to find though. They are best ordered through EBay or get one now while you can wait on shipping

3. Car Inverter

This is another unconventional solution for an aquarium, but also way more efficient than what other retailers tell you. A car inverter converts the DC voltages in your car’s battery into AC power for your devices. You can keep your car on to keep your battery charged. Because your car runs off gas, this is another long-term solution and also a portable one as well.

If you own multiple cars, it’s easy to switch between cars as you need power and if you run low on gas you just go to the gas station to get more

4. Battery Air Pumps

Penn Plax Silent Air

A quality battery powered air pump. Gives 6-8 hours of run time off D batteries. A great way to protect your aquarium against power outages!

Buy On Chewy Buy On Amazon

Battery powered air pumps are ideal for smaller tanks. All they require is C or D batteries and are very affordable to purchase. They are one of the easier go to solutions when it comes handling a power outage. Batteries usually last about 8-12 hours and can be replaced with a supply that you can store.

Every aquarium should have one of these. They come in handy in a pinch

5. Battery Backups

This is the most common solution retailers will offer to you. It makes sense, most are made by aquarium equipment manufacturers. They have their place and will last several days.

You will also see other options people will throw out like a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). The problem with these is they are not designed to power aquarium equipment for long. They will using give you a few hours of power. The backups designed by aquarium equipment manufacturers are a better choice.

Still though, battery backups aren’t effective for long-term power outages. I’d rather go with the combination of a Oxydator and generator to keep my tank going.

How To Aerate Fish Tank Without Electricity

Okay, so maybe you have come across this post and you have no equipment and you are on your phone trying to figure out what to do. If you lack equipment, here is the best way to low tech your way out of a power outage

Low Tech-ing Oxygen

Get a bowl and scoop water out of your water and poar it back in
Use the same bowl to move the aquarium water across like a pump and create air bubbles
Repeat this process every 15-30 minutes

Keeping Your Water Warm

Get thermal blanks and cover your aquarium in it
If you do not have these blankets, use any other blankets you have around the home
Huddle up the family near the aquarium too bring around body heat
Pour hot water into the aquarium slowly to raise the temperature – make sure this water is de-chlorinated

Keeping Your Water Cool

Get ice out of your freezer and put it in a container
Put this container into your aquarium to cool your tank
Refill the container with more ice as it melts
Continue doing so to keep the temperature down
Remove your tank hood or open your canopy if you have one

Common Questions

How Long Can Fish Survive Without Electricity?

Not very long. If you have not backup equipment, it can be as little as 2 hours before your fish run out of oxygen in your tank and they start suffocating. If you do not invest in a power outage solution your cherish pets can perish within a few hours after the power goes out!

Can Fish Survive Without a Filter?

They actually can if you invest in a power outage solution. An Oxydator will keep your aquarium’s oxygen’s levels up and will provide ammonia detox. If you have a battery backup or generator, your equipment will run during an outage

Will My Fish Die If The Electricity Goes Out?

Yes, they may very well die if you don’t take proper action! Get the proper equipment like battery powered air pumps or a generator if you have a larger aquarium. Flow the low tech plan of pouring and moving water to keep oxygen levels up and keep your temperatures stable.

Will Tropical Fish Die Without A Heater?

Yes, they can. However, cold is a slower killer to fish versus heat as fish will attempt to go dormant in the event the temperature drops low in the short term. You should take action in trying to keep your tank warm during a power outage. Most fish should be able to survive mid 60 degree temperatures in the short term. Just take the steps needed to in order to keep your tank as warm as possible. There is no heater that runs well in an outage as they draw a lot of energy.

How Can I Oxygenate My Fish Tank Without Electricity?

There are multiple ways to do this. Battery powered air pumps are the usual go to. A Sochting Oxydator is another great tool that will run for weeks without electricity while also removing ammonia. A low tech way of oxygenating without electricity would be to move the water manually every 15-20 minutes to keep oxygen flowing in the tank.

Still Not Sure What To Do? Ask A Question Below

We supplied a video below for reference from our YouTube channel. If you find our content helpful, please subscribe to us as we post new videos every week.

I know it’s tough and I know it’s heart breaking to experience a power outage tragedy. I’m here to help. Don’t be afraid to reach out in the comments below, email me, or even call me on my business line on my site’s foot below. I’ve survived several of these successfully in the past so I know what it feels like to be in your shoes. Best of luck for you and don’t be afraid to reach out.

December 22, 2020

Best Pond Heater and De-Icer – What Actually Works in Winter

Winter pond management is something a lot of koi and goldfish keepers underestimate until they lose fish to an iced-over pond. The question of whether to use a heater, a de-icer, or both depends on your climate, pond depth, and what you’re keeping. and the answer isn’t the same for everyone. After covering pond fish extensively and working with hobbyists in colder climates over 25 years, I have a clear sense of what works and what doesn’t for keeping pond fish safe through the winter. This guide breaks it all down.

If you live in a colder climate, caring for your fish in the winter is a major concern. If you own Koi, you will want to hibernate safely in the winter, as the hibernation cycle increases their lifespan. When your pond ices over, it can threaten the lives of your pond fish. For people with smaller ponds, fish are sometime brought inside for the winter, but those of us with larger ponds do not have this option.

Should I Use A Pond Heater In The Winter?

This is probably the first question you should ask yourself. There are two categories of pond heating in the industry. They are pond heaters and pond de-icers. The purpose of the pond heater is to provide more oxygen and gas exchange while your fish hiberate during the winter. Yes, pond fish will hibernate during the winter when temperatures drop. It is our responsibility as pond keepers to keep the temperatures stable and gas exchange going during this critical time for them.

In cold climates, but not freezing climates you will get temperatures near freezing. If you have a small pond in these cases, a proper pond heater placed in the deepest area of the pond will suffice. However, if your pond becomes completely frozen over during the winter, you will want to invest in a pond de-icer to use as part of your winter season pond maintenance. A de-icer will heat your pond by heating the surface of the ice. They will create a hole in the ice so gas exchange can continue. Koi fish in particular are very sensitive to extreme low temperatures. To protect your pets and investment, it is best to prep your pond with proper winterizing equipment.

When Is A Pond Heater Appropriate?

Pond heaters in general are best suited for small ponds under 100 gallons. For some people, it may be easier to just bring in your fish indoors for the winter if you can catch them. For anything larger, floating pond de-icers are going to be the best candidate on keeping your pond safe in the winter.

A Quick Comparison

There are various pond heaters and de-icers available. Below are the best pond de icer models available today.

In a hurry? I recommend The Aquascape Pond Heater and De-Icer!

Below are several suggestions that you can purchase that would work with a variety of pond setups.

Picture	Name	Type	Link
Editor’s Choice	Aquascape Pond Heater and De-Icer	De-Icer Auto-Shut Off	Buy On Amazon
Best Value	Laguna PowerHeat De-Icer	Brand Name European Made	Buy On Amazon
Budget Option	Tetra Pond De-Icer	Blends Well 3 Year Warranty	Buy On Petco Buy On Amazon
	Farm Innovators Pond De-Icer	Large Ponds	Buy On Amazon
	Finnex Heaters	Small Ponds	Buy On Amazon
	K&H Pet Products Pond De-Icer	Up to 1500 watts	Buy On Amazon

The Top Picks (2023 Reviews)

1. Aquascape

Editor’s Choice

Aquascape Pond Heater and De-Icer

Editor’s Choice

Quality construction and backed by a 3 year warranty. The go to for a pond de-icer

Buy On Amazon

I’m a big fan of anything Aquascape. They are a pond equipment company that was created by expert pond builders who focus on efficient and optimal koi pond kits and pond equipment. This Pond De-Icer from Aquascape is such a product. It is made of high quality stainless steel construction. Stainless is ideal for a pond de-icer because they are very durable, are corrosion resistance, and do not crack under extreme weather.

The built in LED light at the top will allow you to see if the unit is operating when you look at your pond from your window. It also has an auto-shut off feature that will turn off if the unit is taken out of the water, which will prevent damage to the de-icer.

And they back all of this up with a 3 year warranty. It’s a great unit to invest in, granted if you are comfortable with the price tag as it is one of the most expensive de-icers on this list. However, it is a great quality unit that will provide years of reliable service.

Pros

Stainless steel construction
3 year warranty
Energy Efficient

Cons

Expensive
Only 300 watts – need larger for larger ponds

2. Laguna PowerHeat – Quality Unit from Hagen

Best Value

Laguna PowerHeat Heated De-Icer

Best Value

A quality made unit by Hagen. Comes with a 22 foot cord and built to be user friendly

Buy On Amazon

For those of you who may not know, Laguna is a Hagen brand. Hagen is well known in the aquarium industry for making high quality and lasting equipment with it’s European engineering backed by great warranties and customer testimonials regarding the durability of their equipment.

The Laguna De-Icer is no exception. It is a quality made unit from Hagen that is made to last. It has the same features of the other units on this list like an intregrated thermostat that with auto-shutoff, but actually comes with a longer electrical code than most at 22 feet. The unit also includes a 15 watt heating element, which takes out the guesswork when having to defrost a frozen pond safety.

For some odd reason, this Hagen made unit only has a 1 year warranty. That is really the main thing that bothers me about this unit.

Pros

Longest electrical long on the list
Heating element makes it dummy proof for already frozen ponds
Hagen brand

Cons

Only a 1 year warranty – rare for Hagen
Not made of stainless steel or aluminum

3. Tetra – Looks Like A Decoration

Budget Option

Tetra Pond De-Icer

Budget Option

A pond de-icer that blends well in a pond. Backed by a 3 year warranty

Buy On Petco Buy On Amazon

The Tetra Pond De-Icer is not only a de-icer like blends well into your pond, but also very reasonable in price. It looks like a rock so it won’t stick out like a sore thumb. It is your standard 300 watt de-icer like we have seen with the smaller units on this list. It won’t have the LED light indicator like the others because it’s meant to blend in your pond, but it does the job. The price is tough to beat as well!

Tetra is usually a brand for me that I view as lacking quality. They tend to make a lot of entry level or newbie friendly budget friendly setups, however this particular unit is backed by a 3 year warranty, so I’m willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. It is not made of stainless steel or aluminum, but the unit looking like a rock is a nice draw and I can see how that can appeal to my buyers.

Pros

Looks like a pond decoration
Cheap
3 Year Warranty

Cons

Tetra brand and quality is usually of the low-end
Plastic material

4. Farm Innovators – For Larger Ponds

Farm Innovators Pond De-Icer

Made of aluminum and high powered. A great choice for large ponds

Buy On Amazon

For larger ponds, the Farm Innovators Pond Deicers are great units to consider. It is made of cast aluminum for ultimate safety. Aluminum does not corrode or rust, which means this construction ideal for a water based application. They come in a number of sizes so you can use these units on larger pond applications and they are back with a solid 3 year warranty just like the Aquascape units.

With a larger unit however, the power draw is pretty high. The base unit draws 1250 watts. That is much higher than the Aquascape units. These units with their power draws can trigger GFCI units and break switches so make sure you are aware of the power draw and load on your switches.

Pros

Cast Aluminum construction
Variety of sizes available
3 year warranty

Cons

Not very energy efficient
High wattage and cause issues with some breakers

5. Finnex Digital – Durable Unit for Small Ponds

Finnex Digital Heaters

A great choice for smaller ponds. Titanium heaters can take the beating of an outdoor environment

Buy On Amazon Click For Best Price

When it comes to recommending a submersible heater for a small pond, you can’t go wrong with a titanium heater. The titanium heaters by Finnex are a good reliable option as pond heaters. These titanium heaters can withstand the abuse of being outdoors and the controller that comes with the heater will ensure it does not fail.

Pros

Titanium make up – built to last as a pond heater
Controller

Cons

Not ideal for large ponds
Controller needs protection against the elements

6. K&H Pet Products

K&H Pet Products De-Icer

A valued priced pond de-icer. Designed to maintain a hold of 12 inches in diameter

Buy On Amazon

The K&H Pet Products Pond Deicer is a plug and play de-icer available for the the everyday pond keeper. It operates on only 100 watts and is designed for ponds up to 1000 gallons. For larger ponds, K&H sells Perfect Climate Deluxe De-Icers that go up to 1500 watts

This pond de-icer comes equipped with it’s own internal thermostat, so you won’t have to worry about it being on too long. It is designed to maintain a hole in ice of 12 inches in diameter. They are MET certified units, making them very safe to use outdoors.

The main drawback with these units are it’s limited 1 year warranty and it’s plastic construction. I would have preferred a stainless steel or aluminum construction and the warranty is disappointing.

Pros

Internal thermostats controls de-icer
Low-wattage
MET Certified – safe to use

Cons

Only a 1 year warranty
Plastic construction

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Below are common questions I have gotten regarding pond heaters and de-icers. I’ll try my best to address the ones I get the most. If you have additional questions, please let them in the comment section.

Is There A Minimum Required Depth For These Units?

Yes, there is. Your pond for many of these units should be at least 18 inches deep and you should place the de-icer at the deeper area of your pond.

Will My Fish Be Safe While The Unit Is Running?

They will be as long as you follow the general rule of placing it at the deepest area of your pond and have the minimum depth required. Fish will be safe even if they contact the heating unit. These de-icer should not be hot to the touch when submerged in water. They are designed for safe operation in your pond for your fish.

How Do I Operate It?

It’s easier than you think. The trick is to make sure you properly defrost the area for the de-icer if the pond is already frozen. This is usually done by either placing a pot of boiling hot water on top of the deep area of the pond or slowly pouring boiling water on the surface slowly. I prefer the hot pot on top of the pond. Others like the Laguna de-icer have a heater element that will heat the pond surface for you so it can defrost the frozen area. You can see how this is illustrated by the video demo by Aquascape below:

What Other Equipment Do You Recommend To Winterize Your Pond (Pond Aerators)?

I would recommend that you combine a pond de-icer with a pond aerator. This will allow optimum gas exchange during the winger. A pond aerator is a reasonably price accessory you can add to your winter gear for your pond and highly recommended.

Another accessory would be Thermostatically Controlled Outlet. This will properly control the unit from overuse in the event the internal thermostat fails. I would recommend it as a failsafe for your pond de-icer.

What Size Unit Do I Need?

There is actually a great chart by K&H Pet Products that gives out recommendations based on your US Zone. Use the chart below so you can see what size de-icer you will need for your pond.

Which Do You Recommend?

I feel that the Aquascape De-Icer is the best all around De-Icer on the list. However, if you have a larger pond, the K&H Pet Products De-Icers are a worthy consideration. I lean on Aquascape because they are pond builders themselves and the 3 year warranty is one of the best out there.

Conclusion

Making sure your pond is ready for winter is a big consideration if you live in a colder climate. The items I listed in this blog are all high quality units that will get the job done. If you have any questions, please let them in the comments. Thank you for reading.

🔧 Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Aquarium Equipment & Gear Guide. your ultimate resource for filters, heaters, lights, pumps, tanks, and more.

References

Seriously Fish — Species profiles and care data
FishBase — Taxonomy and scientific data
Practical Fishkeeping — Husbandry and care advice

November 17, 2020

UNS Aquarium Review – An In-Depth Look

UNS (Ultum Nature Systems) tanks have become the go-to choice for serious planted tank enthusiasts, and I understand why. The ultra-clear glass, the precise rimless construction, the thoughtful dimensions. these tanks are built for aquascapers who care about the details. I’ve had the opportunity to look closely at several UNS setups and here’s my honest assessment of whether the price premium is justified.

Are you looking for the finest ultra clear rimless aquariums you can find today? If so you have come to the right place as I do a comprehensive UNS Aquarium Review. Ultum Nature Systems or UNS is at the pinnacle of quality and craftsmanship in the planted tank community. As you may have seen in our Best Rimless Tank round up, they were given my editor’s choice badge for best the best at what they do – making a pure rimless aquarium. I didn’t have as much space as I wanted to talk about their aquariums, so I’ll go in-depth here.

I will go over the following:

Features
Craftsmanship
Ease of Use
Value For Money
Product Support
Price

In a hurry? I recommend purchasing the UNS 90U

UNS Aquarium Features

Ultum Nature Systems (AKA UNS) are considered the premium rimless aquarium brand in our industry. They are heavily favored when it comes to planted tanks. The main selling point is their extremely precise design.

Glass Construction

The glass on the Ultum Nature Systems have 45 degree mitered edges. They use high-grade german silicone to not only secure the tank but to have a quality view without obstruction. All aquariums come with a black leveling mat. They are made of low iron 91 clarity Diamant glass.

The use of 91 clarity Diamant glass is another level of quality when it comes to aquariums. It is not your ordinary low iron glass.

Diamant is typically used in commercial office windows, interior design, furniture, and display cabinets. This type of glass isn’t used in aquariums because of its price. UNS doesn’t skip anything on quality and materials to get the highest clarity glass you can find on the market. They are well known with their UNS Systems brand logo laser etched on the right bottom side of every tank they construct.

Cabinets

One of the biggest benefits of purchasing a UNS aquarium is have access to their cabinets. The UNS cabinets are one of the most modern and clean looking stands you will find today. They are made of natural wood materials and come fully assembled out of the box. They are far superior to any stand you can buy standard from a pet store.

They are designed to house Canister filters and there is a 45 degree mitered cut at the top of the cabinet door to allow for a grip when opening the doors. All the cabinets fit with UNS aquariums.

Craftsmanship

Ultum Nature Systems craftsmanship is the pinnacle of the planted tank community. Their glass construction and materials are top notch and unique in the industry. Few if any manufacturers use a commercial grade Diamant glass to save on materials costs. Each glass tank is laser etched with their trademark UNS brand and the aquariums are designed for clean lines and maximum clarity.

On the cabinet side, the cabinets are some of the most modern looking and elegant aquarium stands you will find in the industry. They have leveling knobs and are designed to last and look amazing. Everything fits seamlessly and the tanks look like a work on art on top of the cabinet. The black leveling mat is nonexistent when installed correctly.

Together both the aquariums and cabinets make a high-end design that will make you the envy of all your aquarium friends and be a conversation piece in the living room or office.

Value for the Money

Ultum Nature Systems Aquariums come in a variety of sizes designed with the aquascaper in mind. All models have a cabinet available that fits with the tank and made with their low iron diamant glass. I feel the value for the money is great given the quality of these aquariums and the cabinets available for them. UNS has the following model lines for their aquariums:

Rimless Cube Glass Aquariums
Standard Ultra Clear Rimless Glass Aquariums
Shallow Rimless Aquariums
All-In-One Aquarium Tanks

Cube Glass Tanks

UNS Cube Aquariums are nano square shaped tanks. They can be great for tighter spaces. The small aquariums are perfect for shrimp tanks, betta fish tanks, and stunning mini aquascapes.

Standard Glass Tanks

These are the most popular styles of aquariums of UNS going from small to over 100 gallons. These are the gold standard for ultra clear glass rimless aquariums for the planted community

Shallow Rimless Tanks

The shallow rimless line provides longer aquascaping scape as well as swimming space for fish. These are ideal for aquarists looking to maximum tank length and swimming space for their fish while still having a great backdrop for a planted space. They all come with the ultra clear glass that UNS is known for.

Ease Of Use

The aquarium itself is super simple. It’s a clean rimless aquarium that comes with a leveling mat. It’s the cabinets that are the big selling point when you purchase these aquariums. The cabinets come already assembled. This is a big difference between other brands like Red Sea or WaterBox who will have the cabinet come in a kit where you would need to assemble it yourself. This saves you time and risk of error.

Product Support

This is a major knock on Ultum Nature Systems. They do not have much in the way of product support. They really rely on their retailers to provide guidance and support for claims. The claims will then run through the retailer. This is why you must purchase these aquariums from an authorized dealer. Most dealers are local fish stores, but a premier online seller of UNS aquariums exists online. That would be BucePlant, who is the go to for advanced freshwater equipment and plants. I would recommend if you are going to purchase a UNS Aquarium aquarium online that you purchase it from BucePlant.

Price

UNS due to their unique to the industry leading glass, construction process, and brand name are one of the more expensive pure rimless tanks on the market. There certainty are cheaper brands out there if they are out of your budget range, but the UNS’s premier construction, glass, and brand name really stand out.

Among cabinets, they are one of the finest cabinets you can purchase outside of getting one custom made. The price for them is worth it. Together as a package, they are an excellent value for a high end aquarium.

Closing Thoughts

Ultum Nature Systems aquariums offer a great package for those aquascapers lookers for a high end looking setup. The rimless aquarium is one of the highest quality out there with a unique commercial grade glass type. The cabinets are great looking and designed for planted tanks. If you are looking for a show stopping setup to compliment your home or office, UNS Aquariums are the way to go!

References

Seriously Fish — Species profiles and care data
FishBase — Taxonomy and scientific data
Practical Fishkeeping — Husbandry and care advice

November 14, 2020

Red Sea Reefer Review: Honest Assessment From a Long-Time Reefer

The Red Sea Reefer genuinely changed how people think about hobby reef tanks. Before it, a clean rimless system with a quality sump took real effort to piece together. the Reefer packaged that experience into something turnkey. I don’t take sponsorships, so I can tell you honestly: the Reefer is worth the price premium for reefers who value clean aesthetics and a well-engineered sump from day one, but it’s not the only path. Here’s my full review so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your setup and budget.

Features
Craftsmanship
Ease of Use
Value for Money
Product Support
Price

In a hurry? I recommend purchasing the Red Sea Reefer 350

Features

The Red Sea Reefer is loaded with many features. It’s so much more than a glass box. It all starts with the construction.

Glass Construction

Red Sea has one of the most transparent manufacturing processes on the market. The only aquarium manufacture that comes close is Elos. Here is the quality and care you will get from every Red Sea Reefer that is created for you:

Ultra clear front and side glass. All glass is beveled edge glass
All cut glass edges are ground down to size and polished on all all 4 sides
Each piece of glass that is cut is inspected for blemishes
Aquariums are assembled in batches of 20 units per model
They are then stored for 3 to 6 days to allow for the silicone to cure
All aquariums and sumps are then water tested for 24 hours to ensure they do not leak
They are then hand-cleaned and polished
A final QC inspection is done before the system is boxed for shipment

You can see the full video of their manufacturing process process of their display tanks, sumps, and cabinets. It’s quite impressive!

Overflow System and Plumbing

The overflow box and system on the Red Sea Reefer is based on the bean animal design. The bean animal is considered the best practice for reef tank plumbing to day and creates a silent down flow system. Many cheaper systems still use an old style durso system, which can be loud and not as fail-safe as the bean animal. Due to using the bean animal design, the Reefer overflow is very quiet. The main thing is adjusting the drain valve.

The Reefer comes with a standard control knob showed below. You just turn the knob clockwise to raise the weir water system and counter clockwise to lower it. You slowly adjust until your overflow becomes quiet. Just make sure you adjust slightly and give it a few minutes for your aquarium system to adjust. Once you have the level right, it’s a set it and forgot it design. The box itself is easy to take apart and clean out.

Below you can see the plumbing on an installed system. The Reefer comes with all the plumbing parts ready to go so you don’t have to worry about cutting pipes or going to the hardware store to get pipes. My one critique is the lack of unions. I do know that some aquarists upgrade the system by adding unions and replacing the knob with a Spears gate valve. It’s really up to you. I’d go with unions myself, but it’s not needed.

Sump

The sump on the older Reefer systems used to be it’s biggest weak point. Since the V3 redesign, the sump is more on par with other competitors like WaterBox. The main upgrades from the V3 design is a better cup system that supports media cups, a separate refugium section, adjustable baffles, and the ATO reservoir housing itself on top of the sump.

The refugium wall is also removable if you do not want to use it. This gives you the flexibility of either having a 2 stage or 3 stage sump.

Below is the outline of the Reefer 425 sump so you can see the different configurations available. The height on the skimmer chamber can also be adjusted to suit multiple protein skimmers without having to purchase a skimmer stand. There are multiple holders for media cups, filter bags, and filter socks. There shouldn’t be any issues with air bubbles given the baffle design. They really put a lot of design work in the redesign to give you the most options possible.

The water management system sits at the top of the sump. Because of how it sits now, you get a lot more space to house all your equipment controllers and plugs. I really like how everything fits on one side. They put a wall between the sump and all your equipment. You do not have to worry about salt creep getting into your outlets and have the room to really design your control panel on your reef system. There have been a crazy amount of cool designs and inspirations you can find online from other Reefer owners. The options are endless!

Cabinets

As we saw in Red Sea’s manufacturing process, the cabinet has as much quality in the construction process as the aquarium itself. Every board is hand-finished and cleaned in the construction. The Reefer cabinets are constructed from MDF. The top of the line Reefer Concept models are made of plywood with adjustable feet. Because the cabinet is built for the aquarium, it seamlessly follows the contour of the glass and gives a very modern look

The cabinets are available in either black or white finishes. I’m partial to the white finish. The cabinets are a far superior than what you would normally get at a chain pet store and you would have to be put quite a bit of effort to construct one of similar quality yourself.

Craftsmanship

Red Sea has been the pioneer in our industry when it comes to creating the first ever ready to run reef aquarium system. There have been attempts in the past with reef ready systems, but you still had to do the plumbing yourself and build or get a sump. Red Sea has taken all the guess work and skill out. It is a well designed and carefully engineered product line.

The plumbing is now colored and no gluing is required. The overflow is clean and top notch. They go with a simple approach to plumbing because they are targeting the masses versus the hard core reefers who want every toy in their system.

They have even gone so far as to create their own line of skimmers, LED lights, and wavemakers in order to make your decision easier when you can literally just buy everything Red Sea to get yourself started. The only thing Red Sea hasn’t made of their own line is their return pump – which I’m happy with. Just mate this system with a Sicce pump and never worry about it failing again!

Value For Money

Red Sea Reefers seem expensive at first, but you need to account for everything you get out of the system when you purchase it. They are also available in a variety of models and lines for multiple budgets. The Reefer line is separated into the following lines

Reefer
XL
Peninsula
XXL and 3XL

The Original Model

The Reefer series is the original model. This is the line that made ready to run aquariums mainstream. All other ready to run manufacturers are judged against this line. It is one of the best reef aquariums available on the market today. They start at 21 gallons and go up to a 4 foot long 73 gallon system.

The XL

The Reefer XL models takes the Reefer concept, but works on maximizing aquascaping space. These models all have 22.6″ wide and 22″ high dimensions. They stay as close to the ideal 24″ wide and high dimensions that aquascapers love. These cabinets are also upgraded with plywood versus MDF.

Peninsula

The Reefer Peninsula are a top of line model that are see through from 3 sides. They are great to place as a room divider or in an office. The cabinets have additional features here like a ventilated compartment for chiller and control systems.

The XXL and 3XL

These are the beast systems. The are some of the largest ready to run reef aquariums you can buy today. No expense is spared here. Super clear and super thick low iron glass is used. On The largest system, you get a split sump system and a dual return setup so you have redundancy on the returns.

Ease of Use

Red Sea Reefers are easy to put together and well constructed. Below are two sample images of their instruction booklet. The first is the cabinet assembly instructions. I feel that the cabinet install is fairly straight forward. The instructions aren’t as clear as Waterbox, but the components are easy to identify.

The next photo is the plumbing install. The images aren’t as clear, but there are so many pictures and videos online of folks who have put together these systems that it shouldn’t be too difficult even for a beginner to put everything together. RedSea lacks a video of the actual install, which I feel is a downer.

Red Sea Reefer Install Instructions Aquarium

Product Support

The product support isn’t really from Red Sea themselves, but from the community. When you purchase the Red Sea Reefer, you enter into an exclusive club of Reefer owners. There is even a private Facebook group for owners that Red Sea promotes where you can connect with other owners and share tips.

Other forums like Reef2Reef even have their own Reefer trends and some of the big marine clubs have their own little Reefer cliques. It’s pretty cool how the community of owners are super passionate and work together to make other hobbyists successful. You will find the community of Reefer owners as one of the most passion hobbyists out there and are very open about sharing their successes and failures in the hobby with you.

Outside of the community. Red Sea now offers a 3 year warranty for 2020 models and beyond. This was a response to other competitors like Waterbox taking market share away from them. I’m glad to see competition pushing Red Sea to push for a better warranty. The days of lifetime warranties from manufacturers like Aqueon seem to be fading away these days.

Price

The Red Sea, while it executes simplicity and quality at a very high level, has also received criticism for being expensive. On the surface, Reefer prices seem very expensive, but we have to look at the value their bring by having everything in a kit in an easy to assemble package. To build similar you would need to:

Purchase a rimless aquarium
Obtain plumbing parts, glue everything yourself, and find colored PVC
Build or purchase a separate aquarium sump
Get an overflow box and possibility drill the tank to install it.
Purchase an aquarium cabinet or get one made of similar quality

Most people will go with a standard rimmed tank to save money. This will not present as well aesthetically as the Reefer. Also, many reefers tend to purchase the best available for their budgets. As a result, they often go overbudget. It’s not uncommon for a full set purchase to be near the cost of a set package like a Reefer. Other times the time cost of money of DIY’ing a solution is a major consideration.

So in my mind, I feel that the Red Sea offers great value for someone looking to build a high quality setup. Most reef owners tend to go high end because they want the best for their coral reef systems and aquatic animals. To me the upfront investment is worth it.

Comparision: The Waterbox

The biggest consideration for someone looking at these systems is which is better – Red Sea or Waterbox. There are a number of differences and I can list them here. Overall, they both have their strength and personally I feel the Waterbox is a better buy if you are trying to future proof or get a white cabinet:

Waterbox’s plumbing has a manifold, Red Sea’s does not
Waterbox has unions. Red Sea uses elbows for a simpler install
The overflow on the Waterbox is 100% glass while the Red Sea overflow is acrylic on the teeth. Waterbox’s overflow will be more resistant to scratches long-term
White finishes are cheaper for Waterbox models then Red Sea white finishes
The cabinet quality on the Red Sea overall is superior. The higher end models of the Reefer have leveling feet
The community I feel is superior on the Red Sea. Red’s community is older and more broad. Waterbox is still developing theirs
The Red Sea brand name is strong and has greater resale value
Red Sea warranty is better

Neither system includes a return pump. I would highly recommend you purchase a Sicce AC or DC Pump to complete your aquarium.

Closing Thoughts

Red Sea Reefers offer great value for aquarists who want a how quality build without having to go through the headache of picking all the parts separately. It’s a ready made solution and Red Sea has only components in their system like proteins skimmers that integrate with the aquarium. They were the pioneers when they debuted the first generation models and today they continue to set the bar for quality.

References

Seriously Fish — Species profiles and care data
FishBase — Taxonomy and scientific data
Practical Fishkeeping — Husbandry and care advice

November 7, 2020

Best Auto Top Off System (2026 REVIEWS 🏅) – Keeping Your Aquarium Stable

An auto top off system is one of those pieces of equipment that seems optional until you realize how much salinity swings can stress your livestock. In a reef tank, evaporation can drop salinity noticeably within a day or two. especially in warm climates. I’ve run ATO systems on my 125-gallon reef for years and the stability difference is real. Once you set one up, you won’t go back to manual top-offs.

Aquarium automation is becoming more and more of a reality to the modern aquarist these days. One of the most common applications of tank automation are auto top of systems (AKA ATOs). They are many out there, but which one is the best auto top off system? Today’s post is all about figuring that out

These systems work to add freshwater to your aquarium as water evaporates. In saltwater tanks, they are extremely valuable in maintaining stable salinity levels as salinity can swing as water evaporates and does not get replaced. In freshwater tanks, this will keep your water level stable so your filtration can run optimally and so your tank doesn’t completely dry out.

Replacing evaporated water can be a real pain, especially for those with larger aquariums. Auto top off systems make things easy for you to manage without carrying a bucket of water everyday. However, you have to be very diligent about the system you choose. Auto top off systems can be finicky and selecting one of poor quality ones can lead to a tank disaster and possibly an expensive home repair bill!

This is the reason for this post today. Auto top off systems are great tools for making your life easier, but not all auto top off systems are created equal. I’ve used or have experience with most of these top off systems I will go over today. Before we get started, let’s talk about why a top off system is so great and what features you should be looking for.

Why Do You Need An Auto Top Off System?

Anyone with a large amount of money invested in an complete aquarium system wants to protect their investment. An auto top off system is an automation tool that maintains stability in your aquarium. With saltwater aquariums it can not only be used keep your salinity levels stable, but also to add supplements to your reef tank via Kalkwasser. In freshwater systems, it will keep your levels stable for equipment to run correctly.

The main thing with an auto top off system is that you need a reservoir of water to pull from. You can use a sample 5 gallon bucket, brute trash can, or a glass/acrylic top of container designed for aquarium usage. The reservoir will usually last 5-7 days before needing to be filled up again saving you the time from having to fill up water manually. Auto top off systems are also very valuable if you are out of town or frequently away and can’t regularly maintain the tank’s water level.

Choosing An Auto Top Off System (What To Look For)

Auto top off systems are widely available in the hobby and there are several cheaper options like a DIY systems, however we have to outline the major critical features that are required in a quality system. Below are the main things we want when selecting a proper top off system for our aquariums:

Redundancy (Fail Safes)

This is the most important feature to look for. Auto top off failure is pretty common, especially with systems that use a manual float switch. If the switch fails, the top off system will fail to turn off, which causes too much water to be added. Ideally, we need dual sensors with our auto top off system. We also desire both a manual and digital sensor.

For a manual sensor we want a float switch (pictured above). The float switch has a switch that floats with the water level in your aquarium. As the water level rises the switch triggers and turns off the top off system. This the most common type of top off switch and something you may be familiar with if you have seen the float switches on your toilets. They are fairly reliable, but since it has moving parts they are prone to getting clogged with salt creep, getting jammed with critters like inverts, getting interrupted by waves, or breaking.

For a digital sensor (pictured above), we want an electronic eye sensor. This sensor monitors the water level in the aquarium and turns off the top off system electronically when the eye senses water above where it’s set. It is reliable, but prone to getting clogged up by water impurities over time. Most top off manufactures like to market these sensors as “not having moving parts” knowing that manual switches can fail, but don’t really like to mention the faults of a digital switch.

This is why we want to have a system with both manual and digital sensors. We can live with a dual manual or digital sensor, but the best of both worlds is a combo of digital and manual as both sensors can fail for different reasons.

Timers

Another critical feature we are going to want is a auto top off system with an auto shut off timer. In the event of a switch failing, an auto top off system with a shut off timer will shut off the pump before a major water disaster can occur. One of the biggest concerns with a DIY ATO solution is that there is no auto shut off timer.

This means that water will continue to fill in your aquarium if your switches fail. This can be disastrous not only to your aquarium, but also to your home as well! You would have to add some type of auto shut off feature on a DIY system or consider an aquarium controller, both of which will add costs to the system.

Value For Your Money

Now that we know what we are looking for. Let’s look at the best auto top off systems available on the market.

In a hurry? I recommend the Tunze Osmolator!

Picture	Name	Features	Link
Editor’s Choice!	Tunze Osmolator	Digital and Manual Sensors Auto Shut Off	Click For Best Price Buy On Amazon
Best Value	XP Aqua Duetto ATO	Dual Digital Senors	Click For Best Price Buy On Amazon
Budget Option	JBJ Auto Top Off	Dual Manual Sensors	Click For Best Price Buy On Amazon
	Hydor Smart Level Controller	Dual Digital Sensors	Buy On Amazon
	IceCap ATO	Dual Digital Sensors	Click For Best Price Buy On Amazon
	EPTTECH Aquarium ATO System	Digital Sensor	Buy On Amazon

ATOs – 2023 Reviews

Let’s see why each ATO system made the list. Let’s dive in!

1) Tunze Osmolator 3155 – The Gold Standard of ATOs

Editor’s Choice

Tunze Osmolator

Editor’s Choice

The most reliable and best auto top off unit available today. Digital and manual sensors with an auto shut off feature

Click For Best Price Buy On Amazon

The Tunze Osmolator is without a doubt the gold standard for auto top off systems in the industry. It has everything that I listed earlier that we are looking for in an ATO system. It has dual sensors – one float switch and one digital sensor that work together to manage your water level. It has an auto shut off feature so you won’t have to worry about the pump running too long or your house flooding if the switches fail. It has an audible alarm if the water level gets too high and comes with a quality pump from Tunze.

The Tunze brand is well known for building lasting equipment and the reputation of this auto top off system is well known. They last for years and rarely fail with the pump usually failing first and being easy to replace. This is the ATO of choice for anyone building a quality display tank. You may have noticed there is a nano osmolator available from Tunze – but it’s simply not the same as it only has one sensor and I only list dual sensor ATOs for a reason on this post.

It comes with a high price though. It’s the most expensive auto top off system for a reason. You get what you pay for with this system.

Pros

Manual and digital sensors
Proven reputation and name brand in Tunze
Quality pump included
Auto shut off feature

Cons

Expensive
Pump can be a little loud

2) XP Aqua Dueletto ATO – Built for All In Ones

Best Value

XP Aqua Duetto

Best Value

Compact , dual sensors, and well priced. The XP Aqua Duetto is a stand out best buy

Click For Best Price Buy On Amazon

The XP Aqua Duetto ATO system is an ATO that has been designed with all-in-on aquariums in mind. It is designed for this purpose so well that Waterbox Aquariums often sells this ATO as an add on to their reef ready system. It is marketed as the “world’s smallest dual-sensor aquarium top-off system” and you can see by the sensors and pump how small it really is. It can achieve this small footprint by not using moving parts, opting for a digital sensor setup.

The pump is a DC pump, which draws less power and allows it to be smaller in size. So small that it can easily fit in all-in-one chambers and operate effectively. It uses dual digital sensors that will work in complete darkness. Because the sensors mount magnetically without a sensor mount, they can be placed just about anywhere in the aquarium or sump chamber and can be hidden easily.

For those aquarists who want a compact version of an osmolator, XP offers an ultimate version with 4 sensors that competes with the Osmolator 3155

Pros

Small enough for all-in-one tanks
Good purchase considering pump is included

Cons

Only uses a digital sensor
No auto shut off feature

3) JBJ – Budget Friendly ATO

Budget Option

JBJ Automatic Top Off System

Budget Option

A great auto top off for those on a budget. Dual manual sensors and a easy to use controller get the job done

Click For Best Price Buy On Amazon

The JBJ Auto Top Off system is one of the main time tested entry level auto top off systems on the market. This system is different than the others before it on this list as it features two manual float switches that will trigger as your water level rises. There are no of digital sensors on this auto top of system. I actually don’t mind the dual float sensors and with the two types of setups you can do with this ATO system, you can have a pretty full proof and redundant system.

Another great feature is this system is easy to customize. You can modify the auto shut off timer by upping the time on the controller and tuning the shut off with a screw driver and you can also turn on an alarm when the ATO turns on. That’s a really great feature for control and to prevent any flooding in the event the float switches fail.

The controller features an audible alarm if the max float switch triggers and both float switches are reversible if you need to do that. It really offers a lot for its price point.

The things I don’t like with this system is you have to purchase a pump and the mount options aren’t that great. There is a suction cup mount option, which I would not recommend, and the bracket mount options just don’t look very pleasing to the eye and may mount weird if you have a rimless tank or sump. Not having a pump included usually brothers me with auto top off systems. I tend to lean on systems that comes with pumps as it takes out any guesswork I need to do.

Pros

Reasonable price
Easily modifiable and customized
Auto shut off feature

Cons

Suction cup mounts (Use brackets instead!)
No pump included

4) Hydor Smart Level Controller – Dual Sensor ATO For A Reasonable Price

Hydor Smart Level Controller

A great choice for sump systems

Buy On Amazon

The Hydor Smart Level Controller is an ATO system that uses a dual sensor to manage your aquarium’s water level. The sensors are included on a single plug making it easy to install. It is a sump based ATO systems, so I would not recommend it for using it in tank as the alarm level is set very high if used in an aquarium. It features a dual alarm system with both lights and sound. The sensors are not affected by waves in the tank.

What I don’t like about this auto top off system is that it does not come with a pump. You have to purchase that separately so the price may not be as great as it seems if you pick up a more expensive pump. The switch holder is also a hybrid suction/magnet. I would prefer a true magnet mount.

Pros

Reasonable Price
Alarm
Dual Sensors

Cons

No Manual switch
Not a True Magnet switch holder
No Pump included!

5) IceCap ATO – Reliable Dual Sensor

IceCap ATO

A dual digital sensor ATO system designed by CoralVue. Good price and good features

Buy On Amazon Click For Best Price

The IceCap ATO is a comprehensive top off system that includes dual digital sensors. These dual digital sensors read your water level and provide a min and max sensor. This provides a dual sensor back up for the auto top off unit. CoralVue advertises this unit as one without moving parts. It is a bit of marketing fluff to do this, but overall it is a competent unit for the price.

The pump that is included is of good quality and it is mounted with magnets, which I feel is a better and more secure mount than the Hydor system. The alarm has a nice feature that lets you when your reservoir is low, which helps when you don’t look at the ATO container. CoralVue is a brand is also known for quality customer service so that’s another thing that gives this system a leg up.

It has a decent price for what it offers. It lacks a manual switch and a shut off feature but overall it is a good package for the price.

Pros

Reasonable Price
Dual Sensors

Cons

No Manual switch

6) EPTTECH ATO – Good But Needs Refinement

EPTTECH ATO System

Good value with a small footprint. Lacks the quality control to make it higher on the list

Buy On Amazon

The EPPTECH ATO is a good value and has a small footprint. This is a clone of the smart ATO system. The smart ATO system was actually excluded from our list because of availability and price compared to others that made the cut. This does not have a float switch, but a single digital senor. As a result, it has a very small footprint and will fit anywhere in an aquarium.

My biggest gripe is the quality control on this unit. There are several reviews on the product where it fails. The sensor fails or the magnetic optical part corrodes in the tank. These are all no go’s in my book. As such, I would not recommend this unit and stick to the others I mentioned prior.

Pros

Good value
Small footprint

Cons

Only uses one sensor
Quality Control

Our Recommendation

If you want the best quality and most reliable auto top off system, my recommendation is very simple. It would be the Tunze Osmolator 3155. It’s ironclad reliable, will service your tank for years, and is built very well. If that is not in your budget, I would recommend the XP Aqua Duetto Auto or JBJ Auto Top Off depending on if you have a pump available or not. The XP Aqua offers a good price and includes the pump and is reliable. The JBJ is cheap if you have a pump and has adjustable features when you access the inside of the controller.

I Don’t Have A Sump. Which ATO should I use?

There is one auto top off system that is designed for people without sumps. That would be the XP Aqua Sumpless ATO System. If you are running your ATO directly out of your display aquarium, this is the best ATO to get for your needs.

How to Setup

ATOs are actually really easy to install. They are probably one of the easiest tank automation tools to maintain and install on an aquarium. This video below shows how to install an XP Aqua Ultimate on a sump system. The install would be very similar installing an ATO in the display tank or all in one aquarium.

For the reservoir you will want to use a food grade bucket or trash can or an acrylic or glass ATO container. If you are running a saltwater tank, you will want to use RODI water from an RODI System. Make sure to fill up the reservoir and put the pump in the container before you turn on the system so the pump does not run dry.

Conclusion

Auto top off systems can be great great automation tools are are really a requirement if you want to keep an aquarium system that is demanding like a reef tank. Careful research and consideration is needing when selecting the right unit for you and I hope I made your buying decision easier with the overview of the systems and recommendations. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. Thanks for reading.

🔧 Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Aquarium Equipment & Gear Guide. your ultimate resource for filters, heaters, lights, pumps, tanks, and more.

October 20, 2020

Christmas Moss – Care, Propagation, & Issues

This plant will grow in almost anything. But if you want it to actually look good, you need to understand what it wants. The gap between alive and thriving is lighting, nutrients, and consistency.

Any plant stays alive. Making it look good takes understanding.

Are you looking for the most attractive aquatic moss species you can purchase for your planted tank? If so, Christmas Moss is a plant you should consider. Today, I’m going to do a full overview on the plant and discuss why it is such a staple in our aquarium hobby!

As you may have read in my Best Beginner Aquarium Plants round up article, Christmas Moss was featured as an excellent ground cover plant. It is an extremely hardy plant that will survive a wide range of aquarium parameters. This moss has been used in award winning aquascapes and is easy to groom. It’s easy to shape it so it takes over the spots that you intend for it to grow over. Let’s look into this wonderful plant more shall we?

My overview will cover the following on this plant:

Difficulty and Care
Lighting Requirements
Growth Rate and Maintenance
Fertilization and CO2 Needs

In a hurry? I recommend purchasing Christmas Moss from BucePlant

Christmas Moss has a branching growth pattern that no other moss replicates. But it grows slowly. If you want instant coverage, this is not your plant.

Christmas Moss Difficulty

Aquarium moss in general is very hardy. This is what makes them great for beginners. Christmas moss is no exception. It is just as hardy as Java moss and Flame moss. Personally, I find it the most attractive of all the aquatic mosses you can purchase. The plant comes from Asia, India, and Japan. In the wild, you will it find it growing outside of water of all things. However, it grows well in an aquatic environment.

As long as your parameters stay stable, this is a easy plant to care for. If your parameters are out of wack a common issue with Christmas Moss is the moss will “melt” away. This will also happen if the tank gets too cold or too warm. As always, test your aquarium parameters to ensure you have the proper levels using an aquarium test kit.

Care

Difficulty: Easy	pH: 5.0 – 7.5
Size: 3″ tall	Hardness: 5 – 15 dKH
Propagation: Creeping and clippings	Placement: Foreground
Fertilizer: Liquid	Origin: Southeast Asia
Grow: Moderate	Temperature: 72 – 82F

Christmas Moss is an overall easy plant to care for. You can see the stats above for quick reference. Let’s talk about how to place this moss in your aquairum.

How To Attach

The best way to attach Moss is using Superglue. There is an excellent video on this technique posted by Jurijs Jutjajevs on YouTube. I posted the video below so you can view it easily. Jurijs is an Aquascaping expert in our aquarium hobby and someone I would highly recommend you subscribe to if you are looking for advanced aquascaping content. He walks you through the process below.

Another method of attaching moss is by using thread. Personally, I am not a fan of this method as it is messy and mostly will work best on driftwood. The superglue method is superior in my mind because it is easy to do and the gel will cure as soon as you place it in water. Other people will try fishing line. This is a similar technique and another one I’m not a fan of. The main issue with using fishing line is that it will stay permanently in your tank. Thread will deteriorate over time while fishing line will not. The base of the super glue will not be seen over time as the moss grows over.

In my mind, if superglue is the preferred method for attaching corals, why can’t it be the go to for aquarium plants? It’s super simple and easy to do.

Light Conditions

Christmas Moss is a moderately demanding plant when it comes to lighting requirements. I wouldn’t consider it a low-tech moss like Java Moss. You will need a specialty planted tank light to grow it. You will want to place the plant in an area where it is not going to get shadowed by other aquatic plants. If you grow it under high light, it will grow more horizontally then vertically. If it grows up, then you know that you lighting is not that strong.

You can adjust your lighting intensity or move the moss up in order to get it to grow horizontally. Horizontal grow is more appealing when it comes to mosses.

For planted tank lights I would consider two. Either a TwinStar LED or a Serene RGB light. You can see the full review of the Twinstar LED here.

Editor’s Choice

Twinstar LED

The Best LED for Planted Tanks

Twinstar nails the spectrum, has the proper spread and comes with a sleek design. Perfect for aquascapers

Buy On Buce Plant

Buy On Glass Aqua

Growth Rate

Christmas moss is a moderate grower. It does not grow at fast as Java Moss. This is helpful for a busier hobbyist who does not want to be pruning all the time. You can slow down the grow of the moss by not using CO2 injection at the cost of a less thick moss. Pruning is very easy to do. You just trim with pruning scissors and can even shape the moss if you chose to. If you have a piece of moss that is overgrowing in an area, you can slice a piece of the carpet and remove it from the aquarium.

Trimming techniques for moss are best shown through a video and Jurijs delivers again with an excellent video on how the pros do it.

Other Mosses To Consider

There are various other mosses in your aquarium that you can consider growing. Here are a few others that you can mix:

Java Moss
Flame Moss
Peacock Moss

Fertilizer and CO2 Needs

Christmas Moss can grow with or without an active substrate. It’s completely optional. However, for it to thrive you will want to use liquid fertilizer to get it going. For liquid aquarium plant fertilizers, I highly recommended APT Complete. This is the most comprehensive fertilizer you can purchase online and is designed by a professional aquascaper.

Editor’s Choice!

APT Complete

Editor’s Choice

Made by an aquascaper for aquascapers. This is the best all around aquarium plant fertilizer on the market. Marco and micronutrients in one bottle!

Use Coupon Code ASDComplete for 10% off your order!

Click For Best Price

Buy On Amazon

Christmas moss will grow without CO2 injection. However, if you want to bring out the full potential of its growth and have a thicker moss CO2 will help with this greatly. For CO2 systems, I would highly recommend CO2 Art regulators. You can see a full review here.

Best Value

CO2 Art Pro-Elite

Best Value

A budget friendly version of the SE series. This has the quality of CO2 art with a great price. Highly recommended!

Click For Best Price

Common Issues

Below are a few issues that come up with keeping aquarium mosses. Moss plants in general are easy to care for and the issues described below are easy to address.

Melting

This is one of the most common issues with aquatic plants upon introduction. Even more so if the plants were grown above water in lab like conditions. Most plants grown like this will shed the old growth in order to establish foliage that is more suited for being submerged in water. When this happens, pull out the melted or brow pats before they rot away and give it some time for the new growth to replace it. If this is an established plant, check your water parameters with your test kits to see if something is out of wack.

Algae

Algae on is a major problem on all aquatic plants. Once algae grows on a moss, it is very difficult to remove. This is a sign of imbalance in your ecosystem. There should be excessive nutrients in the water or too much light with not enough CO2 to support plant growth. The fast step is to test your water parameters and see what is our of wack then evaluate your CO2 injection, lighting, and fertilization dosage and frequency.

Debris

Debris is another common issue with moss plants as they can accumulate a lot with their makeup. If you have a shrimp tank, snails, or dealing with fry, the issue isn’t as pronounced as both will happily feed off it. However, if you have none of those or just can’t tolerate the look of the debris, you may want to look at it further. This is a water flow and filtration issue

Filtration

It is common with lots of plants to accumulate lots of debris in your aquarium filters. It is best to equip your aquarium with a high quality canister filter if you are going to go for a planted tank. These filters do a much better job of cleaning and providing circulation then power filters and are also more silent. I would highly recommend the OASE BioMaster canister filters for any planted tank setup.

Editor’s Choice!

OASE Biomaster Thermo

The Pro’s Choice

The top choice among professional aquascapers. German engineering and equipped with an intregrated heater.

Buy On Petco

Buy On Amazon

FAQS

Which is Better Java Moss or CM?

Java moss is hardier and easier to care for. Christmas moss is better looking and more suitable for fry and shrimp. Both are great plants for beginners and will grow in low light and without CO2 injection.

Do they Attach?

Yes, Christmas Moss will is attached to any piece of driftwood or aquarium rock. All you need is superglue. Some sellers will actually sell the moss already attached to a piece of wood, rock, or steel grid.

How Fast Do They Grow?

Christmas Moss is a slow grower. It is sped up with CO2 injection and ample fertilizer feedings. It’s slower growing rate makes this a better fit for those who desire a lower maintenance tank

Conclusion

Christmas the best looking and more appealing moss available in the hobby. It isn’t as easy to care for as Java Moss, but it’s requirements are basic enough for it to be beginner friendly. I would recommend it for any beginner or advanced aquascaper looking to have a striking moss in their tanks. As always, I recommend you purchase the moss as a reputable fish store.

If you do not have one available near you, I would highly recommend purchasing from BucePlant. They are the premier seller if live plants in the industry. Excellent customer service and I have had great experience with them. I left a ratings at the bottom of this point for easy reference. If you have any experience with this plant, feel free to comment below and let me know what you think about it. Thanks for reading!

🌿 Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Planted Tank & Aquascaping Guide. Your ultimate resource for aquarium plants, aquascaping styles, substrates, and more.

September 6, 2020

Nyos Skimmer Review – AN IN-DEPTH LOOK

Nyos skimmers have developed a loyal following in the reef community, and after evaluating them alongside the more established brands, I can see why. The needle wheel design and build quality stand out immediately. I approach every equipment review the same way I’ve approached gear for 25 years in this hobby. what does it actually do in a real tank, and is it worth what you’re paying?

Looking for the very best Protein Skimmer available for your saltwater aquarium today? If so, you have come to the right place. Today, I go in-depth with a Nyos Skimmer review!

As you may have read in my Best Protein Skimmer round up article, Protein skimmers have become a staple piece of equipment for many reef tanks. It all started with the Berlin method that became popular when I started up reefing back in the early 90s. Everyone swears by their protein skimmer, and we can see why with so many successful reef tanks running them. So what makes the Nyos Quantum so unique? Let’s find out shall we?

My reviews are fairly structured. I’m going to be reviewing the following with the categories with this protein skimmer line:

Features
Craftsmanship
Ease of Use
Value For Money
Product Support
Price

In a hurry? I recommend purchasing the Nyos Quantum 160

Nyos Skimmer Review – Features

The Nyos skimmer prides itself by it’s extreme performance. This is a result of the massive amount of air and water it drives through it’s skimming chamber. This is achieved by their Nyos Twister technology. The twister is an additional blade that is added to the usual bubble plate you will see in most protein skimmers. This blade gives the bubbles an additional cycle within the bubble vortex. What this does is create additional contact time for the air bubbles in the water column.

A protein skimmer lives and dies off the contact time. The more contact time the better for a skimmer. This is why recirculating skimmers are popular at the high-end of the hobby. Nyos achieves a recirculating effect all within a small footprint.

The next feature to speak of is the quiet operation of the skimmer. I’ve worked with skimmers that do a great job, but are very loud. Given that the Nyos is a premium level skimmer, I would expect it to be dead quiet. I purchase a skimmer like this for the performance and it’s silent operation. Not only is it one of the quietest skimmers on the market, it is also energy efficient even without using a DC pump!

The pump is built off what Nyos calls the Nyos Hybrid Wheel. This is a specialty designed impeller that combines the advantages of a needle wheel and lattice wheel. It is an AC pump, which I personally love because I know AC pumps are generally more reliable than DC pumps. The pump is placed in a clear view reactor. This is a clear impeller cover that lets you see the function of the skimmer. This allows you to visually inspect the protein skimmer to see if there are any obstructions that need to be cleaned out. The pump will operation best in a water level of 8 – 10 inches on all Quantum models

Craftsmanship

The Nyos has nothing cheap built into it. When you pull it out of the box, the first thing you will notice is the weight of skimmer. There are no cheap plastic and thick high quality acrylic. It comes with titanium screws so you do not have to worry about your screws rusting out. Below is a image of the Nyos Twister blade.

Nyos Twister — Image Courtesy of Marine Depot

The Nyos is built to be compact and does not use externally mounted or large bulky pumps. This not only allows it to fit in smaller aquarium sumps, but also makes it quiet and easy to maintain. The Nyos skimmer is designed and built in Germany. There is are no corners cut with its design and it shows not only in its parts, but its looks. It looks cool just sitting in your sump. For those of you who like to make aesthetically pleasing sump setups, this skimmer is a great additions for its looks and it’s performance.

Ease Of Use (Installation)

The Nyos built to be plug in play. In my experience, this is the quickest skimmer to break in among all the skimmers I have worked with. Many lower end skimmers will take several weeks to break in until they start performing the way they should. The Nyos gets off running. They usually break in after a day or so.

They are built to be simple to use. It has two adjustment values for the air intake and the chamber level. The collection cup is also generous in size and goes a while before needing to be replaced. The cup comes off easily by twisting off.

While the instruction manual does not have pictures illustrating install, EcoTech Marine does provide a video showing how to assemble and install the skimmer. I have supplied the video below for your reference so you can view it when you purchase it.

Value For Money

The Nyos Skimmer from first look seems like a very expensive skimmer. When you look at the quality of construction and features that this skimmer has, you can see how it stands out from many of the its competitors in the marketplace. A Nyos has been known to be too good at its job and has to be dialed back in order to control nutrient levels. This to me is a hallmark for a skimmer. A good unit should be able to run on its own without added equipment.

A quality skimmer should be able to run with just this unit and the biological filtration coming from the rock in the aquarium and the micro fauna that is breeding in the refugium. The Nyos can achieve this balance in a heavily stocked tank without missing a beat.

Models

The Nyos Quantum comes in 4 different models that can handle from 40 gallons all the way up to 1000 gallons. The 160 is the most popular of the entire lineup.

Product Support

Nyos Skimmers are distributed in the US by EcoTech Marine. EcoTech marine is well known in the reefing hobby for producing high-end equipment and having excellent customer server. EcoTech marine provides the support for Nyos. They are typically fast to respond to phone or email inquires.

The main downfall with the Nyos protein skimmers are their warranty. You only get a 1 year warranty. This is disappointing given the Germany quality engineering and the fact that the pump runs of AC power. However, looking at other brands like Reef Octopus and Deltec, you will see similar short warranty periods. The longest warranty I’ve seen for a distributed protein skimmer has been Simplicity which offers a 3 year warranty.

The Nyos website it linked back to Germany or something, but they’re actually distributed in the USA by Ecotech Marine. Most people already know Ecotech’s reputation for being a well-established exceptional company. They respond to inquiries extremely fast via both phone and email.

One issue we ran into when it came to contacting them was we were informed that during some warranty issues a credit card actually gets held to ensure everything runs smoothly. The next was for price point. The prices on them for a skimmer with a 1-year warranty we think is a little high. But, there is room for a slight margin of error. When we called the company we got 5 different answers. 3 people told us that the warranty in the USA is only 1-year, but 2-years in the UK and Germany. 2 people told us the warranty is 2-years no matter where the skimmer is sold.

Either way, no one seemed to really know. They should be ranked #1, but we couldn’t seem to get solid answers about how long the warranty actually is or how the warranty issues are actually handled. The only thing for sure when it comes to Nyos skimmers is they perform exceptionally well and are backed by one of the best companies in the USA.

Price

The price for this skimmer may seem very high at first. We have to compare apples to apples though. The Nyos is one of the few German made skimmers out on the market. A fair comparison would be to compare these to the Daltec and Bubble King brands of the hobby. A bubble king is typically going to be 50% more expensive than the Nyos while the Daltecs are going to be slightly more expensive, but less feature rich.

Compared to an equivalent German made protein skimmer they actually are an economical option. Knowing that however, the Nyos does not perform economically. It is an elite performing protein skimmer with stellar support from their EcoTech distributor.

Closing Thoughts

The Nyos Quantum skimmer represents the best of the best when it comes to protein skimmers. It is the best mix of simple to operation and elite performance. The German engineer and quality really make this skimmer stand out for all others on the market. With EcoTech backing support for US distribution, you have great customer service behind the product. If you are looking for the absolute best skimmer on the market today, the Nyos my choice for any top-end reef setup.

You can see the ratings below from me and my editor’s choice badge that these skimmers receive. Since I’m open to all reviews, you can leave your own reviews below. I’m all about being an unfiltered source of reviews for our reefing community. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

🔧 Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Aquarium Equipment & Gear Guide. your ultimate resource for filters, heaters, lights, pumps, tanks, and more.

August 23, 2020

IceCap Gyre 2K Review: Is the Second Generation Worth the Upgrade?

The original Gyre wavemaker was a genuine innovation when it launched. the crossflow design eliminated dead spots in a way that traditional powerheads just can’t, and I thought the first-gen IceCap Gyre was one of the best values in reef flow equipment at the time. The 2K and 4K second-generation models pushed performance further, but also pushed the price. I don’t accept sponsorships, so here’s my honest take on whether the upgrade is worth it and how the Gyre 2K stacks up against the competition for reef tanks in the 100. 200 gallon range.

The 1st generation of IceCap’s Gyres was in my opinion the best value in aquarium wavemakers on the market. Today, I look at IceCap’s latest Gyre 2K and 4K 2nd generation models and see if they still continue to deliver value.

My reviews are fairly structured. I’m going to be reviewing the following with the categories with these kits:

Features
Craftsmanship
Ease of Use
Value For Money
Product Support
Price

In a hurry? I recommend purchasing the IceCap Gyre 2K

IceCap Gyre Features

The IceCap 2K Gyre has a number of improvement over the last generation 1K models. The output has been upgraded to 2,000 gallons per hour and it now can be controlled via wifi.

The new wifi app is called CoralVue Hydros. It’s the same mobile app that is used on the Hydros WaveEngine controller. The new app also you to program the Gyre on your phone using presents and triggers. Modes are always available like a feed mode that shuts down the pump. Below is a screenshot of the app. It is a simple to use app that CoralVue has a number of videos available that explain how to use the app.

One observation with the WiFi is that it only runs off 2.4 ghz. It does not run off the modern 5 ghz band. Make sure you have a router that runs 2.4 and 5 ghz bands. Most wifi routers do have dual bands so it’s likely not going to be an issue for most users.

The new controller that runs the Gyre 2K and 4K can actually run up to two pumps. This is an improvement to the prior generation model that had to have a controller for each pump. You can even run two pumps off a single power supply. This reduces clutter in your aquarium cabinet. It’s an added plus feature with this newest generation.

The design of the 2nd generation Gyres look similar to the prior models, with exception to the impeller blades. In the prior models, they were black. In the 2K and 4K models they are a orange color. IceCap does include black impellers that you can switch out though. I would encourage you to switch to the black ones as the orange ones can look odd in the tank when the pump isn’t running. The magnet can work on aquariums up to 1/2″ thick in glass.

IceCap Gyre Craftsmanship

The craftsmanship on the IceCap Gyre is solid just like the last generation. It’s licensed technology from MaxSpect. Maxspect was the original designer of the Gyre technology. It is a cheaper version of the MaxSpect gyre, but I don’t feel any significant cost cutting measures were taken. The impeller design is simple and easy to take apart.

Thepower outlet comes from the top. The Gyre, like all other Wavemakers not named EcoTech has the power outlet on the wet side of the aquarium. Since Gyres are places near the top of an aquarium, I don’t feel it takes away from the look of the tank. It some display tanks, it may blends into the backgrounds and look like part of the return.

Ease Of Use (Installation)

This is where the IceCap Gyre really stands out. CoralVue has done a stellar job of producing video content on how to setup and use the Gyre. I’m going to list them all here so you have a quick guide when you purchase the unit.

Installation and Operation

This video will walk you through the Gyre parts and the setup to install in your aquarium

Pump Controller Setup

This video walks you through the install setup of the Hydros mobile app

Controller Configuration

This video walks you through flow configurations available off the Hydros app and how to program your Gyre.

https://youtu.be/WExf_POvVt4

Value For Money

There are three comparisons I need to make on the Gyre. The first is comparing it to the MaxSpec XF Gyres. The IceCap 2K and 4K Gyres are superior value in comparison to the MaxSpect. In my opinion, there isn’t much to justify the additional price tag of the XF. This is specifically true now with the CoralVue Hydros app.

The next comparision is against the high end wavemakers on the market. Comparing to the EcoTech MP, the IceCap Gyre 2K and 4K are a superior value. A IceCap 2K Gyre can easily power a 3 foot long tank with no dead spots. The equivalent setup for an MP would require two units. This makes a Gyre a much cheaper alternative for a wavemaker in a reef tank

The last comparison is against the prior IceCap 1K and 3K models. There has been a significant price increase over the 1K and 3K due to the controller. The 1K Gyre used to be an incredible value. It’s a shame that the 2K model has a much higher price tag. However, the controller is a significant improvement and if you run a tank that needs to run 2 gyres like a 6 foot long tank, The IceCap will be a great value for you.

Models

Below are the available IceCap Gyre models available today. The 2K will work for up to 3 foot long tanks. The 4K is a more powerful version that is recommended for higher flow demand environments such as an SPS tank.

Product Support

IceCap is sold by CoralVue. They have been a manufacture of OEM parts for major years in the industry and are the exclusive distributor or brands such as IceCap. One thing that really stands out with CoralVue is their customer support. They go the extra mile to reach out to you and are regularly involved in hobbyist forums. As you also saw, they have been getting into video content more which has been helpful in understanding how to use the products you purchase.

The cons with Gyres in general are their warranties. You only get a 1 year warranty on them. That is a vast different from the old AC wave makers that would offer multi-year warranties. I still feel they serve great value even with their shorter warranty.

Price

Price is the biggest change with this newest generation Gyre from IceCap. The prior generation was a bargain at the price it was sold at. This new generation has had a significant price increasedue to the wifi enabled controller. While it can be more expensive for a tank that only requires one Gyre, the price becomes more reasonable when you are running 2 or me Gyres. This is because the controller can operate 2 gyres so you can save a good bit of money just buying the pump only for the 2nd Gyre.

While overall it is more expensive than the last generation, it is still cheaper than the higher end wavemakers on the market. I feel it’s still a great value for reef tank owners looking for a wavemaker that is set and forget and not complicated to use.

Closing Thoughts

The IceCap Gyre 2K and 4K are great value for what they offer to a reef tank owner. It is one of the more comprehensive wavemaker solutions that won’t break the bank. The new wifi feature on the controller is a great update from the prior generation and worth the added cost. CoralVue as a distributor has a solid reputation for customer service. I feel that you cannot go wrong with a CoralVue distributed product. This is an excellent wavemaker overall.

You can see the ratings below from me and my best value badge that these series of aquariums receive. Since I’m open to all reviews, you can leave your own reviews below. This provides the community with an unfiltered source of reviews. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

References

Seriously Fish — Species profiles and care data
FishBase — Taxonomy and scientific data
Practical Fishkeeping — Husbandry and care advice

August 7, 2020

WaterBox Aquarium Review – An IN-DEPTH Look

Waterbox aquariums have become a serious competitor in the all-in-one reef tank market, and after spending time evaluating them, I understand the appeal. The cabinetry, the rimless glass quality, and the integrated filtration compartment are all clearly designed by people who actually keep reef tanks. I approach every review the same way. no sponsorships, no paid placements, just an honest look at whether the product is worth your money.

Looking for a reef ready system that that delivers on quality and simplicity? If so, you have come to the right place as today I do a comprehensive Waterbox Aquarium Review. Waterbox has taken it to Red Sea with highly quality reef ready systems that are approachable even for a beginner saltwater aquarium owner. As you may have read in my Best Rimless Tank round up article, the Waterbox Aquariums systems are a great way to get started in the saltwater hobby.

They got my best value award for having such great features at a fair price, however, I didn’t have the space in the article to talk about their entire line and go in depth on all their features. This post, I will dive in so you can see what makes WaterBox Aquariums stand out so much in an industry I feel at times can be seen as overly complex to beginners.

I will go over the following:

Features
Craftsmanship
Ease of Use
Value For Money
Product Support
Price

In a hurry? I recommend purchasing the WaterBox Reef Series 130.4

WaterBox Features

The WaterBox tanks are loaded with features. It’s more than just a box of glass.

Glass Construction

The WaterBox Aquarium is built to be a run to run system. It starts off with the aquarium itself which is made of Ultra Clear Starphire glass. This glass is made of low iron. Due to the low iron make up, it has better clarity than a traditional glass tank. It’s clarity rivals an acrylic tank – the gold standard of clarity when it comes to aquariums. Ultra Clear Starphire really comes into it’s own when you are looking at larger tanks. Given that most of the tanks that WaterBox sells are going to be over 100 gallons, Starphire makes a lot of sense for those looking for high quality display tanks.

The entire construction of the glass is put together with straight edged black silicon. The edges are put together with a straight-edging technique that not only gives the aquarium great strength, but a clean look. There are budget rimless tanks that will show poor quality seems where you still see the silicone stick out. Waterbox’s silicone technique is top notch and clean.

Overflow System and Plumbing

Now let’s talk about the overflow system. Waterbox uses a full glass overflow. This is very different than other reef ready systems that use an acrylic overflow. An acrylic overflow have serious drawback in that they scratch over time. The glass overflow has etched teeth and are far easier to clean off than an acylic overflow. What I always loved about glass is you can just take a blade to it to pull off coralline algae. It’s more difficult with acrylic. Your best bet with acrylic is a credit card or a special plastic scrapper. I always felt the glass scrapers were superior.

The overflow system takes use to the plumbing work. This is where Waterbox shines. They use a manifold system with hard colored PVC plumbing. They also come with quick disconnect unions and a gate valve. The drains are a bean animal style¹ – the current industry best practice. You can see a video below from the manufacturer that goes over the plumbing system. There wasn’t a plumbing system like this when Waterbox came to the scene. It is still the main feature that wins me over with them.

Sump

These are the best sumps included in a ready to run aquarium system that I have seen. It’s a rimless glass sump that has it clean separate chambers. The sump below is the Reef 130.4 Sump.

You can see this is a true mult-stage sump with a sock chamber, skimmer reactor, pump and ATO section. The ATO section is a great feature. While the Reef models only have a skimmer chamber, the larger Reef Pro models have a skimmer and refugium section. I love the rimless design as there are no braces in the way. The skimmer reactor chamber is also very generous, allowing for oversized skimmers.

Cabinets

The Waterbox cabinets for the Reef, Pro and Peninsula series are made of hardwood and are heavy duty UV coated. This is a step above the standard MDF that you will see from budget cabinet manufacturers – and much better than what you would you would purchase at a typical pet store. They are available in either black or white finishes. Personally, I’m partial to the white finish.

Another great touch are the soft close doors. The hinges are PVC coated. This is another great feature by Waterbox as standard hinges are known for rusting out over time. The doors operate via push open which means you don’t need to have door handles installed. I like this touch as well. It makes the cabinet look clean and modern.

The cabinet is designed with a brace off center. This is down so you have full access to the tank without an annoying middle brace in the way of everything. You will see the same feature on their larger 5 and 6 foot tanks. I like this touch and on the larger systems it really allows you to be creature and design a control command center.

WaterBox Craftsmanship

I love the engineering though and fit and finish of these systems. The plumbing is colored and no gluing is required. The overflow is professional designed. The manifold system makes your system future proof. The cabinets are excellent. And that’s all without mentioning the aquarium itself which is well put together.

Value For The Money

Waterbox Aqariums seem expensive at first, but you have to take into account what you are getting. They are also available in a number of sizes folks of all budget prices and purchase them. Let’s talk about their main series of models, the Reef Series.

Reef Series

The reef series offers a full reef ready system with a bean animal overflow and drain, manifold, cabinet, and sump. Waterbox aquariums are easy to understands with their models. The first number is a rounded up total volume of the system. The number after the period is the length of the tank. An an example, the Reef 130.4 would be 130 gallons of total volume and 4 feet long. Below are all the reef aquarium series models:

Peninsula Series

The peninsula are the top of the line models for Waterbox. These have the overflow on the left side of the tank giving you a full 3 sided view of the display tank. All sumps have an optional fuge baffle you can install for a true 3 stage sump. Below on the Peninsula models available:

Ease of Use

Waterbox Aquariums are very easy to put together. Below is an excerpt from their instruction manual. They label all their parts and take you through each step in detail. The cabinet includes leveling feet included and the hinges can be adjusted.

The cabinet construction is probably the most difficult piece of the set to put together. If you ever put together a piece of furniture from IKEA together, this will be no different for you.

The plumbing system would be the next area of the install. Waterbox posts a great video walking you through the plumbing system and the entire install. It’s much easier to see the video and for me to type it all up in the post. Check out the video for the walk through when you go instal the plumbing.

Product Support

The Waterbox team fully supports their product with excellent customer support and instruction videos to guide you along the way. They also have been getting into content discussing best practices in aquarium keeping.

The aquariums are backed by a 2 year warranty. For a set compared to Red Sea, this is better. However, from the old school manufacturers like Aqueon or brands you can only purchase from a local fish store like Planet – this is a subpar warranty. I understand that Waterbox is putting a warranty on the entire set. I just feel their customers would feel a bit more reassured if the aquariums came with a 3 or even 5 year warranty instead of 2.

Price

Price is a sensitive topic when it comes to ready to run aquariums. Many buyers are initially shocked at the stick price because they seem very expensive from the on set. Let’s talk about what you are getting and go from there. These aquariums come with:

A rimless low iron glass tank
Colored plumbing section with unions, gate valve, and manifold assembly
A rimless 3 stage sump with ATO chamber
Bean animal overflow system
Stylish modern cabinet that is UV coated
Colored background

Waterboxs often get unfairly compared to the classic DIY cheap pet store rimmed tank build. Let’s think about what we would need to do to build a system like this:

Purchase a Rimless tank
Paint it
Drill it
Get an external bean-animal style overflow
Purchase all the colored plumbing, unions, gate values, etc
Cut and glue all our piping together — and pray it doesn’t leak when you test it
Build a cabinet of similar quality and paint
Build a DIY custom sump or purchase a sump

Most people will go with a standard rimmed tank to save money, which won’t look as nice as a Waterbox. With all the labor involved and research to build a DIY setup, you can see the value in these tanks. At the end of the day, the price difference is not that material when comparing making a build of similar quality and look.

So my assessment is they seem expensive, but not as expensive as you think when you factor in the time, research, and money involved in building your own setup of similar quality.

Closing Thoughts

Waterbox Aquariums have great value for what they offer. It would be challenging to build a similar quality aquarium setup without DIY knowledge and even then the amount of labor and time involved many not be worth for some. Waterbox offers a ready to go product that is of superior quality. You can see the ratings below from me and my best value badge that these series of aquariums receive. Since I’m open to all reviews, you can leave your own reviews below. This provides the community with an unfiltered source of reviews. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

July 29, 2020

Half Off Ponds Review: Honest Assessment of Their Pond Kits

Half Off Ponds is one of those brands that comes up regularly when pond keepers are shopping for kits and pond supplies on a budget. I approach every vendor review the same way after 25 years in this hobby. what’s the actual product quality, how does customer service hold up when something goes wrong, and is the value proposition real? Here’s my honest assessment.

Half Off Ponds is one of those brands that comes up regularly when pond keepers are looking to get more value out of their setup. I don’t take sponsorships or affiliate money from equipment brands, so when I review something like this I’m only looking at one thing: does it actually deliver for the pond keeper? Pond kits are appealing because they bundle everything you need into one purchase, and Half Off Ponds has built a reputation around competitive pricing on complete setups. Here’s my honest breakdown of what they offer and whether it’s worth your money.

As you may have read in my Best Pond Kit round up article, a pond kit is a efficient and cost-effective way of creating a great outdoor pond or koi pond. Half Ponds became the clear winner in the round up post, however, I didn’t have the space in the article to go really in depth about what makes these pond kits are so stellar.

My reviews are fairly structured. I’m going to be reviewing the following with the categories with these kits:

Features
Craftsmanship
Ease of Use
Value For Money
Product Support
Price

In a hurry? I recommend purchasing the Half Off Ponds Savio Signature Series With UV Kits!

Features

Half Off Ponds offers high quality pond kits and water feature sets at incredible prices. All their pond kits are a complete package, focused on getting you all the essential components necessary to have a high quality pond. These components would be:

Pond Skimmer
Pond Pump
Waterfall Spillway
Pond Liner
Underlayment
Vinyl Tubing
Patriot Pond Lighting
Black Pond Foam
Beneficial Bacteria

Each one of these components have been carefully selected by the Half Off team. They do not skip out on quality by using generic or imported brands. Many of the kits they sell come with name brand like Savio and they also use their own private label components. The private label components are comparable in quality.

Their pond kits come with EPDM liners that offer a lifetime warranty. They offer EPDM or PVC liners. The PVC liners are about .40 cents less per square feet. You only get a 5 year warranty with the lifeguard liners. You get a lifetime warranty by purchasing their EPDM liner kits. I would recommend you pay extra for the EPDM. No one wants to be repairing a pond liner. They should last a lifetime and they can be a pain to repair.

Craftsmanship

A good way to measure craftsmanship is to see what the brand offers in terms of warranty. Half Off Ponds offers a lifetime warranty on their pond liners, a 25 year warranty on their tubing, a 5 year warranty on their waterfall, 5 year warranty on their pond skimmer, and 2 years on their pond and lighting. Overall, that’s pretty solid and you have one source of contact for their warranty claims.

The EPDM liner is a 45mm pond liner. This liner is the same brand (Anjon), that is installed in 1000’s of water features worldwide. It resists UV deterioration and is virtually indestructible by the natural elements of mildew, rot, and freeze damage.

The major components of the kits, namely the skimmer box and waterfall feature are made in the USA. The EDPM liner, Anjon is a family owned Company based in Missouri. There is a lot of home grown feel in these kits, something that is rare to see in a value priced pond kit. The Half Off team did an amazing job putting these components together in a single package.

Ease Of Use (Installation)

This is the biggest knock on these kits and it’s not entirely their fault. Pond kits in general require labor to be installed and the install process can be an art form to pull off an amazing water feature. There are some YouTube videos online that will give you an overview on how to install these kits, but resources a bit limited and there are not many videos out there on installing these specific kits. There are a lot of inspiring videos and photos on their instagram account though.

View this post on Instagram

Gorgeous pond built with the XLSUV2 Complete Pond Kit! Video submitted by Mike W. #pond #landscaping #backyard #outdoors #diy #gardening #garden

A post shared by Half Off Ponds (@halfoffponds) on Oct 7, 2019 at 7:22am PDT

My recommendation is to watch a few videos to see what you are getting yourself into and if you feel that you need professional help, look into it. You save a lot getting a kit from Half Off. Find a friend who know how to dig and make a level ditch or hire some professional help if needed. I also know I do get contractors from time to time visiting my site to scope out pond kits for their projects. These pond kits the best value for completing a job and maximizing your project profits. They are easy to install in the hands of a professional and the install is a repeatable and trainable process.

Pond Kit Value For Money

Value for the money is off the charts with these pond kits. They have a great combo of quality brands, high quality components, and solid customer support. Their selection of sizes and price ranges are amazing.

Models – For All Budgets and Projects!

Below is a list of all the Half Off Ponds models and sizes. I’m only listing the models with EPDM liners as I do not recommend PVC liners for a pond install. As you can see from the chart below, Half Off makes kits from 350 gallons all the way up to 80,000 gallons.

Product Support

Of all the pond kits sellers, Half Off has the best customer support. This is because they cater to DIYers versus other companies like Aquascape that prefer a network of contractors and professionals to support their product. Because Half Off Ponds knows that they work with consumers directly they are happy to work with you on support. They are also easily reached as their phone number is right on their manufacture website. The only complaint I’ve heard about this Company was regarding install, which I stated earlier is not entirely their fault

Price

There is not a pond kit on the market that matches the mix of quality components and price that Half Off Ponds offers. You may find cheaper because they skip out on components or they use poor quality liners. I haven’t found anything similar at better prices. These are by far the best value priced water feature kits on the market today!

Closing Thoughts

These are the best pond kit for the money you can buy today. Great components, great support, and great prices. You can see the ratings below from me and my editor’s choice badge that the Half Off Ponds brand of kits earns. Since I’m open to all reviews, you can leave your own reviews below. This provides the community with an unfiltered source of reviews. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

References

Seriously Fish — Species profiles and care data
FishBase — Taxonomy and scientific data
Practical Fishkeeping — Husbandry and care advice

July 14, 2020

Twinstar LED review – An IN-DEPTH look

Planted tank lighting is one of those areas where the wrong choice sets you back months of growth and algae frustration. I’ve evaluated a lot of LED fixtures over the years for planted setups, and Twinstar has carved out a strong reputation in the high-end segment. particularly for tanks that need both excellent PAR and a natural spectrum. Here’s my in-depth look at whether it lives up to that reputation.

Looking for the very best planted tank LED available for your aquarium today? If so, you have come to the right place. Today, I go in-depth and do a Twinstar LED review. I’ll go through what’s new, their features, and what makes them so superior compared to all other planted tank led systems on the market.

As you may have read in my Best Planted Tank LED round up article, LEDs have become the technology to use for growing plants. The energy efficiently and programmability of the units have created easy to use lights. Twinstar’s focus on their lights is performance and aesthics. What you will see in this review is that not all LED are created equal. Twinstar nails full spectrum and spread like no other planted LED maker on the market. among the various players out there.

My reviews are fairly structured. I’m going to be reviewing the following with Twinstar LED light series:

Features
Craftsmanship
Ease of Use
Value For Money
Product Support
Price

In a hurry? I recommend purchasing the Twinstar E Series!

Twinstar LED Review. Light Features

The Twinstar prides itself as the a true full spectrum aquarium light system. When it comes to assessing the fit of an LED fixture for aquarium usages we look at the following factors

PAR Strength (Intensity)
Spectrum
Spread

PAR¹ strength is something that many LED fixture will easily meet. LEDs in general are very intense so this isn’t the sole metric we should focus on in assessing a planted tank LED. However, it is something that is readily available from Twinstar. Below are the values of the 600E series. The PAR values below here are good enough to light up the vast majority of plants in a planted aquarium.

Having a true full spectrum is the big difference factor between a cheap light and a high quality light. Very few LEDs on the market can really bring out the reds of red plants. The benchmark for planted tank LEDs are the ADA Solar RGBs. The problem is the Solar RGB is not only hard to find, but also very expensive. The Twinstar LED light is considered a copy of the ADA Solar RGB spectrum. It’s the gold standard in planted LEDs, without the extreme price of the ADA. The Twinstar LED light also does not have fans, which make them excellent for quiet rooms

Let’s talk about another factor in these lights. These lights come with a diffuser built in. Look at the photo below. You can see the diffuser in action. A diffuser is a must in the planted tank world. If you are growing an aquascape of mostly tall plants like a Dutch Aquascape, shadowing becomes a major deal. The diffuser eliminates the problem. You won’t see this feature in many planted tank LEDs and I’m puzzled why it’s excluded is many other fixtures on the market.

The Twinstar is feature heavy on the core function of the light – PAR, full spectrum, and spread. Regarding controllability that’s where this fixture falls short. There is no fancy controller or app that runs on wifi and you can’t mess with the spectrum through a tuner. I rather like it that way. It makes it simple to use and less prone to electronic failure.

Craftsmanship

Twinstar’s craftsmanship is top notch. The thing I love about this light is there are no fans. That makes the light ideal for quiet rooms. The light is not made in China, and it shows. It’s sleek smooth, and looks very clean presented on a tank. They can either come in aluminum brackets or acrylic ones. I personally prefer the acrylic bracket

Ease of Use

This is by far one of the easiest planted tank LEDs for advanced hobbyists. The light comes with brackets that hold up the light at the ideal height for proper spread and PAR output. Because the LED is designed for the best full spectrum not the highest PAR, it is not necessary to use a PAR meter to adjust the intensity. It’s a plug and play system. All you need is a mechanical timer or smart timer. It’s completely dummy proof. Excellent marks overall by Twinstar!

Value For Money

The Twinstar LED family of lights actually come in multiple flavors that fit every budget and need. Twinstar has a model for all budgets starting from their budget friendly CA series to their premium S series. Their most popular model is the E series. The E series can handle the vast majority of planted tank needs and grow plants efficiency. I would say their E and S series have the most value of all their models. The CA series will have other competitors that may be a better value.

Models For Everyone!

Below is a table showing the main Twinstar LED light models

Product Support

Product support scores the lowest in my review. Twinstar as a whole doesn’t have much in the way of product support. They have a few videos and their distributor sites are not very helpful. The main source of support you will find is from hobby forums and other aquascapers who use the light to get success. That’s a big difference compared to say Fluval that actually does a number of videos and support behind them.

One way to migrate the lack of support is to purchase the fixture from a high quality seller like BucePlant. Buce has been around for a number of years and their know planted tanks well. Their customer service is excellent and I would prefer to purchase the fixture there over Amazon for that very reason!

Regarding warranty, Twinstar offers a 2 year warranty on all their lights. That is higher than most lower quality aquarium light makers that offer only 1 year, but lower than the 3 year warranty offered by Fluval. I have not heard of many Twinstar lights failing prematurely however. Many last for years due to their simple electronics design.

Price

For many of you looking at this point, the Twinstar will likely be the most expensive light fixture you are researching. There are more expensive units like the Kessil and ADA out there, but most will be comparing these to Fluval, Finnex, and cheap aquarium light alternatives on Amazon. The Twinstar offers the best spectrum and design of all these brands and models. From a spectrum and spread prospective, it’s not even close.

Closing Thoughts

This is the best planted tank LED on the market you can buy today. Best full spectrum, best spread, best value for money. You can see the ratings below from me and my editor’s choice badge that Twinstar earns. Since I’m open to all reviews, you can leave your own reviews below. This provides the community with an unfiltered source of reviews. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

July 12, 2020

EcoTech Radion G5 Review: Is the Premium Price Worth It for Your Reef?
The EcoTech Radion sits at the top of the reef LED market, and it earns that position. I run a 125-gallon reef and I’ve watched the LED lighting space evolve considerably. the gap between a premium fixture like the Radion and mid-tier alternatives has narrowed over the years, but EcoTech still leads in spectrum tuning, app integration, and long-term reliability. The honest conversation for most reefers isn’t “is the Radion G5 good?”. it clearly is. It’s whether your coral goals and tank size justify the price over capable competitors. Here’s my full breakdown to help you decide.

As you may have read in my Best Reef LED round up article. LEDs are the it technology when it comes to coral growing. They have become the tech toys of our hobby and also have become very energy efficient over time. LEDs can be tricky however, as too many features can overwhelm a newcomer and the spectrum of the LED are not created equal among the various players out there.

EcoTech has prided themselves with spending the R&D time and listening to the hardcore Reef community about what is wanted from a proper Reef LED. This new G5 answers a lot of the asks our community has been wanting. Let’s dive in and see what’s new and what means this newest generation the best ever!

My reviews are fairly structured. I’m going to be reviewing the following with this Radion G5:
- Features
- Craftsmanship
- Ease of Use
- Value For Money
- Product Support
- Price
In a hurry? I recommend purchasing the EcoTech Radion XR15 Blue!

Features

The EcoTech Radion G5 is a huge improvement over the Generation 4. It starts with the HEI lenses that are the most sophisticated lens design available in the industry for LEDs. The new design cluster and optices cuts hot-spot PAR by 30% while also providing a 35% increase in total PAR output from the prior generation. This means you get a better spread and higher output then ever before.

The new generation 5s come in either a Pro version or a Blue version. For this product review, I’m going to concentrate on the Blue version. The reason why is because I feel that the Blue version is the way to go. Anyone who runs a hardcore reef tank knows the value of blues when it comes to coral growth. The blue version is also designed on the EcoTech’s well known AB+ spectrum setting. The model is completely optimized for this spectrum. This makes the new generation 5 the most plug and play friendly Radion ever. Below are the array outlines of the XR15 and XR 30 models for both the Blue and Pro models.

Just look at that array and see the difference between this LED and many others out there. The number of blues on the Blue model are amazing. What you end up is getting a spectrum that is very close to the gold standard ATI Blue Plus.

The generation 5 has 8 controllable channels. Aside from the new array and lens, the other major difference with the Radion Gen 5 is the new Mobius app. The App makes things so much easier to manage and it comes with the package. You no longer need Reeflink in order to connect your light to your phone. The spectrum and intensity is easily adjusted through the mobile app

The Mobius app also has a user friendly timer setting that allows you to set your light timing and your ramp up and down times. I love the ease of use for this app. I know some of our more hardcore reefers want more out of the app. I’m all about simplicity. EcoTech is really listening to the reef community by making everything so accessible for this Generation 5 model.

Did I mention that the Mobius app has the AB+ as a template within the app? This makes it super easy to set up your Radion to the most popular setting that the reefing community uses.

The blue model makes things so easy for the reef community. I love the new features, the app, and the ease of setup with the new blue model. Excellent job EcoTech!

Craftsmanship

The newest generation design is sleek and modern. It’s what we come to expect with the EcoTech Radion lights. Below is a photo of the external overview of the Radion G5

Regarding the mount options, unfortunately the mounting options from the prior generation can’t be used on the G5 Radion. However, the new design actually gives you more options to hang the unit from a DIY perspective. The mounting arm is raised more than the prior generation, which means you can mount your unit on a rail.

It’s a great design and well engineered. There isn’t much out there in the market today that comes close to the craftsmanship and aesthetics of the Radion. The coolness factor of these lights cannot be denied.

Ease Of Use

The ease of of use of the EcoTech Radion G5 has been vastly improved over the last generation. With the Blue model, all you will need to do is tune down the intensity of the unit in order to get the PAR down to where you need it for your specific corals. The Mobius app makes this so easy compared to last generations. Below is the Mobius program overview video from EcoTech. By looking over this video, you should have what you need to get it started. This is the easiest to setup Radion I’ve ever worked with.

There is a fairly easy way to setup your Radion. Here is a quick guide. I would recommend that you rent a PAR meter from your local hobby club or an LFS so that you can ensure you have the proper PAR levels
- Set height to 8″ for the best distribution of PAR
- Set all channels on the Blue model to 100% and only adjust intensity for PAR
- Photo period – 9 hour peak photo period with 30 minute ramp up and ramp down for a total of 10 hours total
- LPS PAR Range – 75-150
- SPS PAR Range – 200-350
Value For Money

Many retailers will recommend that you use a single XR30 for a 24 x 24 tank space. If you are using an XR30 for a 24 x 24 space, I would say your value for the Money definitely diminishes for this light. However, I firmly believe you can achieve ideal coverage for a 24 x 24 space, still get your ideal PAR coverage, and get way better value for your money by going with a single XR 15.

How is this possible? It is possible with the new Radion G5 diffusers. I would recommend that you purchase a single XR15 and the G5 Diffuser. This will achieve full coverage of the space and PAR spread for the vast majority of tank setups. Below is a video that discusses the new diffuser.

I actually think the diffuser should come with every G5 light. It was a neccessary item with the last generation for those with SPS tanks. With the new lenses, EcoTech claims that you do not need the diffuser to achieve proper PAR spread. The reason why I recommend it is so you can save money and go with a single XR15 instead of purchasing an XR30. If you are running an all out Acro tank, I would just recommend getting XR15s and mounting it to a hybrid fixture over the XR30.

Product Support

The main selling point for me when it comes to EcoTech is the large amount of reefers who use the Radion LEDs. It’s very easy to get advice on proper spectrum settings. This was a major deal with the prior generation models before AB+ became mainstream.

The biggest issue that always bothered me about EcoTech was their warranty. You only get a 1 year warranty with their LEDs. While this is pretty standard when it comes to lights (Giesemann and GHL are the only high end lighting manufacturer where you will see warranties beyond a year), I just expect if you going to spend the amount of money for this light that you get longer than a one year warranty.

Price

This is an expensive light. There is no way around it. It is one of the most expensive reef LEDs on the market and you truly get what you pay for with this Generation 5 model.

I will also point out that the Kessil 360X is more expensive that than the XR15 – and the XR15 is a superior light in my opinion when it comes to performance for coral growth. The XR15 is marginally more expensive than the Hydra 32 and Red Sea 90. The Hydra used to have a huge advantage with their smartphone app, but EcoTech has gained a ton of ground with the new Mobius app.

I do not feel that this generation of Radions are overpriced anymore. I felt that way with the G2, G3, and even the G4. The G5 has really changed my opinion. As other manufacturers come out with newer models, they pushed their prices up while EcoTech kept their prices with this newest generation. Good on EcoTech, and this light is worth every dollar.

Closing Thoughts

This is the best Reef LED light you can buy today. The newest generation is such a gigantic improvement over the G4. It raises the benchmark for all other LEDs on the market. With competitors looking to mimic what EcoTech does, their prices continue to go up which increases the value of the EcoTech Radion even more.

You can see the ratings below from me. The G5 Radion gets my editor’s choice rating and is now the light of choice for my high end setups. Since I’m open to all reviews, you can leave your own reviews below. This provides the community with an unfiltered source of reviews. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

References
- Seriously Fish — Species profiles and care data
- FishBase — Taxonomy and scientific data
- Practical Fishkeeping — Husbandry and care advice
July 5, 2020

Model	16C	20C	25C	30C	40C
Picture
Price	$	$	$	$	$$
Dimensins (LxWxH)	6.29 x 6.29 x 6.29	7.87 x 7.87 x 7.78	9.84 x 9.84 x 9.84	11.81 x 11.81 x 11.81	15.75 x 15.75 x 15.75
Aquarium Volume (Gallons)	1	2.1	4.1	7.1	16.9
Link

Model	60U	75P	90P	90U	120P	120U	180U
Picture
Price	$$	$$$	$$$$	$$$$	$$$$$	$$$$$	$$$$$$
Dimensins (LxWxH)	23.62 x 14.17 x 14.17	29.52 x 17.72 x 17.72	35.43 x 17.72 x 17.71	35.43 x 22.04 x 22.04	47.24 x 19.69 x 19.69	47.24 x 23.62 x 23.62	70.86 x 23.62 x 23.62
Aquarium Volume (Gallons)	19	36	44	68	78	114.58	156
Link

Model	25S	45S	60S	75S	120S
Picture
Price	$	$	$$	$$$	$$$$
Dimensins (LxWxH)	9.84 x 9.84 x 4.92	17.71 x 11.02 x 7.09	23.62 x 14.17 x 7.09	29.52 x 17.72 x 11.81	47.24 x 23.62 x 14.17
Aquarium Volume (Gallons)	2	5	10	26	68
Link

Model	Nano	170	250	350
Picture
Price	$	$$	$$$	$$$$
Dimensions (LxWxH)	18″ x 18″ x 52″	24.5″ x 20″ x 54″	35.5″ x 20″ x 55″	47″ x 20″ x 55″
Aquarium Volume (Gallons)	21	34	54	73
Sump Volume (Gallons)	7	9	11	18
ATO Reservoir Volume (Gallons)	1.2	1.5	2.1	2.8
Total System Volume	28	43	65	91
Link

Model	XL 200	XL 300	XL 425	XL 525
Picture
Price	$$	$$$	$$$$	$$$$$
Dimensions (LxWxH)	24″ x 22.6″ x 55″	36″ x 22.6″ x 56″	47″ x 22.6″ x 56″	59″ x 22.6″ x 56″
Aquarium Volume (Gallons)	42	54	90	116
Sump Volume (Gallons)	11	15	24	31
ATO Reservoir Volume (Gallons)	1.8	3.2	5.5	5.5
Total System Volume	53	80	112	139
Link

Model	Nyos Quantum 120	Nyos Quantum 160	Nyos Quantum 220	Nyos Quantum 300
Picture
Price	$$$	$$$$	$$$$$	$$$$$$
Gallon Recommendation	40-125 Gallons	100 – 250 Gallons	125 – 500 Gallons	250-1000 Gallons
Air Max (Liters Per Hour)	500 l/h	1500 l/h	2200 l/h	2200 l/h
Power Consumption	8 Watts	18 Watts	22 Watts	2 x 22 Watts
Dimensions (LxWxH) in Inches	5.91 x 8.27 x 18.31	7.29 x 9.85 x 20.87	12.2 x 9.25 x 23.8	13.4 x 16.4 x 26
Water Level	8-10 “	8 – 10″	8 – 10″	8 – 10″
Link

Model	IceCap Gyre 2K	IceCap Gyre 4K
Picture
Price	$$	$$$
Gallon Recommendation	20 – 90+ Gallons	25 – 150+ Gallons
Gallons Per Hour (Max)	2,000	4,000
Gallons Per Hour (Min)	739	1,286
Power Consumption	8-25 Watts	13-45 Watts
Dimensions (LxWxH) in Inches	8.78 x 2.83 x 1.5	12 x 3.15 x 1.7
Tank Thickness	Up to 1/2″ thick	Up to 5/8″ thick
Link

Model	Reef 70.2	Reef 100.3	Reef 130.4	Reef Pro 180.5	Reef Pro 220.6
Picture
Price	$$	$$$	$$$	$$$$	$$$$$
Dimensions (LxWxH)	24″ x 24″ x 58″	36″ x 24″ x 58″	48″ x 24″ x 58″	60″ x 25″ x 60″	72″ x 25″ x 60″
Aquarium Volume (Gallons)	47.2	71.7	96.3	140.7	167
Sump Volume (Gallons)	22	25.4	30.6	45.3	37.1
ATO Reservoir Volume (Gallons)	3.6	4.7	5.5	5.8	17.2
Total System Volume	69.1	97.2	126.9	180.8	221.3
Link

Model	Peninsula 6025	Peninsula 7225
Picture
Price	$$$$$	$$$$$$
Dimensions (LxWxH)	60″ x 25″ x 60″	72″ x 24″ x 60″
Aquarium Volume (Gallons)	140.7	168.9
Sump Volume (Gallons)	41.8	41.8
ATO Reservoir Volume (Gallons)	5.8	18.7
Total System Volume	183	228
Link